Symbolism In To Kill A Mockingbird Essay Examples

1111 words - 5 pages
Harper Lee use of symbolism is extent and throughout the major events in To Kill a Mockingbird to show the details behind the events. A seven-year old girl, Scout, tells the story and symbols may not be as obvious to her as it would the reader. Lee uses the camellias, courage, and the mockingbird as important symbols in the book. Lee uses symbolism throughout the book making it overt and obvious.
The camellias are two different symbols in the book. Lee uses them for Jem and Mrs. Dubose. Jem’s action of cutting the heads off Mrs. Dubose’s camellias show that his is still young and rash, he acted out of anger which later changes throughout the book. After Mrs. Dubose dies, she left a
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642 words - 3 pages
Symbolism in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The mockingbird is a major symbol in the book, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. Harper Lee chose the mockingbird for both the title of her book and as a symbol in her book. I believe she selected it because the mockingbird is a creature that is loved by all for its singing and mocking, for which it gets its name, and how it never intends to harm anything or anybody. Atticus Finch says to Jem, ??but remember it?s a sin to kill a mockingbird.? Whereupon Miss Maudie explains, ?Your father?s right, mockingbirds don?t do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They don?t? eat up people?s gardens, don?t nest in corncribs, they don?t do
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867 words - 3 pages
was a dead man the minute Mayella Ewell opened her mouth and screamed” (241). Although the trial appears fair on the surface, it shows racism that ultimately causes Tom’s demise, and the majority of Maycomb agrees with the outcome.
In summation, Harper Lee uses the symbol of a mockingbird to illustrate three different kinds of prejudice in “To Kill a Mockingbird”. Scout, the narrator, capitulates to the pressure to act like a lady, illustrating sexism in the process. Boo Radley, a friendly man circulated by hideous rumors, demonstrates the theme of ostracism. Finally, Tom Robinson, an innocent man, faces his downfall due to the racism of Maycomb. All three of these characters are mockingbirds, for they hurt no one and are hurt in many ways. Through symbolism, Lee was able to illustrate a clearer picture of prejudice in her fictional town.
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1098 words - 4 pages
Symbolism in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Harper Lee has used symbolism rather extensively throughout the novel
and a great deal of it refers to the problems of racism in the South
during the early twentieth century. Symbolism can be traced in almost
every important episode or event which formulates the story line.
Right from the beginning Scout's character and her outlook towards the
behavior of the people in Maycomb county symbolizes a child's innate
curiosity towards life. It also portrays the untainted intelligence
which helps her see beyond what is apparent.
Scout's understanding of Walter Cunningham's poverty and his
self-pride is a
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1585 words - 6 pages
'I'd rather you shoot at tin cans in the backyard, but I know you'll goafter birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want , if you can hit 'em, butremember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird.' This is what Atticus Finchtells his children after they are given air-rifles for Christmas. Uniquely,the title of the classic novel by Harper Lee, To Kill A Mockingbird, wastaken from this passage. At first glance, one may wonder why Harper Leedecided to name her book after what seems to be a rather insignificantexcerpt. After careful study, however, one begins to see that this is justanother example of symbolism in the novel. Harper Lee uses symbolism ratherextensively throughout this story, and much of it
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1082 words - 4 pages
How are birds symbolized to the human mankind society? Eagles are a symbol of bravery and great strength. Parrots are a symbol of intelligence. What about mockingbirds? How do they treat and contribute to the human mankind? Mockingbirds symbolize those who are innocent, helpful, and caring but are punished and treated badly. It is a skin to kill a mockingbird because they do not harm us in any way but sings wonderful songs to us. Some of the characters like Boo Arthur Radley, Tom Robinson, and Mayella Ewell symbolizes the mockingbirds in Maycomb. Boo Arthur Radley who is innocent is segregated from the outer world and dominated and injured by the evil. Tom Robinson who also is an innocent
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594 words - 2 pages
aiming at the harmless, beautiful mockingbird, who has never touched nor tried to hurt anyone in his life.Scout's innocence almost had a relation to the ignorance of the men aroundher. They were all unaware of what they were doing, yet believed fully in it.The happenings in this book, though it takes place in the South, have relevance to many situations, all over the world. There are many mockingbirds, many unjustly prosecuted innocents, and each aim taken, each stone thrown is as much a sin as the prosecution of Tom Robinson.
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1136 words - 5 pages
To Kill a Mockingbird: Analysis of symbolism.To Kill a Mockingbird is not just a simple story of growing up. This book contains metaphors and symbolism that greatly increase its literary value.MockingbirdThe most important symbol in this story is probably the mockingbird. The theme of the mockingbird is shown in the title and throughout the rest of the book. After Scout and Jem received air rifles for Christmas, their father Atticus said to them "Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can him 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird."(p.129) Later, Miss Maudie explains that "Mockingbirds don't do one thing but make music for us to enjoy."(p.129) Here we learn that the mockingbird
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1250 words - 5 pages
the favor of their fellow tribe, for the one tribe with the most followers will be victorious over the other. The struggle for power is a central theme in The Lord of the Flies, and whichever tribe receives it, either Ralph's or Jack's, will dominate. Just as the theme in To Kill a Mockingbird predicts, Jack's tribe conquered Ralph's tribe because he had more support from his tribemates who all stuck together as a whole to defeat Ralph's tribe. Ultimately, this theme about accomplishing things as a unified group rather that individually is a universal essence present in several societies.
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1817 words - 7 pages
Harper Lee wrote the novel To Kill a Mockingbird in the mid-1950. The narrator, Scout, grows alongside her brother in Maycomb County, Alabama. Growing up in a time of extreme racism, they face many struggles dealing with discrimination. In the novel, their father, Atticus Finch, defends a black man who was falsely accused of raping a white woman. Lee grew up in a time where situations happened that were similar to those in the novel. She grew up in a small town that was much like Maycomb County. Like Jem and Scout, Lee’s father was also a Lawyer. In her novel, Harper Lee uses many examples of symbolism, themes, and motifs to tell the story of Scout growing up and learning life lessons in
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686 words - 3 pages
Symbolism is a commonly used technique, seen often in short stories, novels and movies. A symbol is often used by an author to get a point or message across without having to openly state it. A symbol can take many forms, be it an animal, a phrase or a colour. The symbol of a mockingbird is used by author Harper Lee many times throughout the novel "To Kill A Mockingbird".The mockingbird symbolizes innocence. It is a creature that does no harm to anybody and only provides joy to others by singing its song. In the presence of evil, it is silent. The mockingbird is first mentioned by Atticus when he gives his children air rifles at Christmas. His advice to them is "you can shoot all the blue
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901 words - 4 pages
To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel written by Harper Lee. Harper Lee uses symbolism to portray some of the main themes and ideas in To Kill a Mockingbird. The novel's main ideas are negative effects of racial and social segregation and the attitudes and influence of society on people at the time of the novel. The symbol of a flower represents different female characters in the novel and show their attitude towards society, the influence that society has on them and how this shows racial and social segregation. This symbol is repeated throughout the novel to remind the reader about the key theme of the novel. Miss Maudie and her azalea flowers represent her understanding but critical
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589 words - 2 pages
There are many different "mockingbird" characters in Harper Lee's classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Early on in the novel, Atticus tells his children to "shoot all the blue jays that you want, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird" (Lee 103). He says this because mockingbirds are known to be harmless creatures that do nothing but sing joyously. Lee cleverly uses this mockingbird imagery to title her classic novel and to describe characters that are kind, innocent people and have done nothing wrong, but are destroyed by the society around them.The first "mockingbird" in this novel is Boo Radley. At the beginning of the story, Boo is a strange and mysterious person to both Jem and
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1240 words - 5 pages
Although the dedication of Mr. Finch in “To Kill a Mockingbird”, even though it turned out against his favor due to an absence of evidence and a debauched court hearing. This court hearing makes readers question whether or not the justice system of that era was fair and in retrospect, a good question is whether or not our justice system today is fair and lawful. If you think that a false conviction was unfair, Tom is eventually killed for his false conviction under a faulty justice system. To me the sense of justice and fairness seems to be completely violated and bigoted.
Most people will agree that Lee’s book is much more complex than book critics may have suggested. The first question
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744 words - 3 pages
In the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" written by Harper Lee, is a narration by a young girl named Jean-Louise Finch, her nickname is Scout. Her older brother's name is Jem Finch and her father's name is Atticus Finch. Their family resides in the town of Maycomb County, Alabama. The story takes place in the 1930's during The Great Depression. Throughout the novel, Scout re-tells her experiences as a child growing up during an age of racism and oppression. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, it is a sin to kill a mockingbird.Mockingbirds are innocent creatures. They do not destroy other people's gardens. They do not annoy local residents. They are as innocent as anything in this world comes
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989 words - 4 pages
Who would want to kill a mockingbird that sings and keeps people at peace? Only mean and cruel people for example Bob Ewell, a drunk and abusive father. This symbol of mockingbird appears in the story many times. According to Merriam-Webster’s Middle School Dictionary a mockingbird is a songbird of the southern U.S. that is noted for the sweetness of its song and for imitations of the notes of other birds (482). The symbol of killing a blameless bird is repeated through out the story when Harper Lee describes Boo Radley, Tom Robinson, and Calpurnia. The following words of Atticus to his children explain it “…but I know you’ll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can
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1024 words - 4 pages
literary element used in To Kill a Mockingbird is symbolism. The mockingbird is used to symbolize something that is harmless. They only sing and make music for others to enjoy and to kill one is a sin. Both Boo Radley and Tom Robinson are harmless individuals, who never intend to hurt a soul. Yet Tom's life is lost, and this is like shooting a mockingbird. As Scout said, "to hurt Boo Radley too would be like killing a mockingbird." Atticus put everything he had: his career, his status in the town and his and his family's safety on the line to fight for an innocent man and against the prejudice ideas of the south. Romeo Montague, from William Shakespeare's drama, The Tragedy of Romeo and
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804 words - 3 pages
It can be argued that the most prominent theme in 'To Kill A Mocking Bird' is prejudice. It is directed towards groups and individuals in the Maycomb community. Prejudice is linked with ideas of fear and injustice.There was surely no nation in the world that holds "racism" in greater horror than does the United States at the time. Fear and paranoia led to the Whites believing that the Blacks desired all the whites had, including their women.A mockingbird is a harmless bird that makes the world more pleasant. In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the mockingbird symbolizes Boo Radley and Tom Robinson, who were both peaceful people who never did any harm.Boo Radley went through his life
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659 words - 3 pages
To Kill a Mockingbird I believe that one of the main themes in To Kill a Mockingbird is the development of the Arthur Radley in relevance to the symbol of innocence in relation to the Mockingbird. Harper Lee finds ways to change his character. As the book goes on more and more details surface about Arthur "Boo" Radley. This adds more conclusions about the fact that Boo just wants to fit in, somehow, the world's big puzzle of life.Scout and Jem befriend a summer resident named Dill. The children become fascinated with the character of Boo Radley early on in Chapter 1. He was described as a recluse and no one ever really took note of him. The children were influenced by town superstitions
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790 words - 4 pages
In the classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, an ongoing theme throughout the book is it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. This theme comes from Atticus instructing Jem not to shoot mockingbirds with his air rifle, because it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. Miss Maudie tells Scout that Atticus is correct; mockingbirds don’t do anything to disturb people, all they do is sing beautifully for everyone to hear. Author Harper Lee shows this theme using characterization.
First, Tom Robinson is a lucid example of a human mockingbird. “‘Well, I says it looked like they never help her none-’ ‘You did all this chopping and work from sheer goodness, boy?’ ‘Tried to help her, I says.’ Mr. Gilmer smiled
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409 words - 2 pages
In "To Kill a Mockingbird", Harper Lee's general view of human nature is negative. She points out the fact that all people have bad qualities.One instance in "To Kill a Mockingbird" in which Harper Lee shows the bad in people is when Bob Ewell is at Tom Robinson's trial. He knows that Tom Robinson did not harm his daughter, but he testifies against Tom anyway. Bob swears that he will get revenge on Atticus if it is the last thing he does. This points out the negative in people because all Atticus was doing by defending Tom was doing his job.Harper Lee calls attention to the human's negative qualities with her character Miss Stephanie. Miss Stephanie is the town gossip. If she hears a rumor
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768 words - 4 pages
Harper Lee uses racism, hypercriticism, prejudice, and many different scenarios to show confliction in the novel To Kill A Mockingbird. Lee uses confliction to provide knowledge to the reader, showing that as the novel progresses and more conflictions arise, not all men are created equal. There are multiple conflicts throughout Harper Lee’s novel that influenced the plot of To Kill A Mockingbird, one of which was the trial between Tom Robinson and Bob Ewell over the rape of his daughter, Mayella Ewell.
The story of To Kill A Mockingbird begins with a young girl named Scout Finch, her brother Jem, and their father Atticus. The story takes place in the small town of Maycomb, Alabama during
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1303 words - 5 pages
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Nelle Harper Lee, was written in 1960. During the 1960's great movements towards equality and integration were taking place, there was great social injustice towards African-Americans. This was Lee's entire plot of the book he wanted to show how even when all evidence proofed a black man innocent when his word is faced the that of a white person or person of the privileged society, he will be found guilty. In To Kill a Mockingbird Lee wrote about a black man named Tom Robinson, who has been accused of raping a very poor white girl named Mayella Ewell, when in all actuality he did nothing but help her out. She made sexual advances towards him, and as he rejected
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1181 words - 5 pages
Who are the mockingbirds in the novel and why?In To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the title of the novel is very significant representing one of the most important themes and symbols which are mockingbirds. Although there aren't many "mockingbirds" killed in the novel there are three main characters that represent this theme: Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, and Scout. The importance of the symbol of mockingbirds is first introduced to the story when Scout and Jem receive air guns for Christmas and Atticus doesn't want to teach them how to shoot but he tells them "'I'd rather you shot at tin cans in the back yard, but I know you'll go after birds. Shoot all the blue jays you want, if you can
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793 words - 3 pages
“Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know whether you did it or not,” says Oprah Winfrey. Integrity is shown through unyielding support of ideals on morals, while being complete or deliberate. In To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, there are several strong examples of integrity. The author in To Kill a Mockingbird illustrates integrity fully and completely through two characters that really stood out to me: Atticus and Mrs. Dubose.
In To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus demonstrates the trait of integrity by the way he lives his life in Maycomb County. For example, when Atticus has just finished announcing to Scout that he has taken up a case for Tom
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1357 words - 5 pages
In a desperate attempt to save his client, Tom Robinson, from death, Atticus Finch boldly declares, “To begin with, this case should never have come to trial. This case is as simple as black and white” (Lee 271). The gross amounts of lurid racial inequality in the early 20th century South is unfathomable to the everyday modern person. African-Americans received absolutely no equality anywhere, especially not in American court rooms. After reading accounts of the trials of nine young men accused of raping two white women, novelist Harper Lee took up her pen and wrote To Kill a Mockingbird, a blistering exposition of tragic inequalities suffered by African Americans told from the point of
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1015 words - 4 pages
In a town where racism is accepted and people are prejudice, one family stands up for what is right. To Kill a Mockingbird is a story from the point of view of a little girl, Jean Louise Finch, Scout, and about growing up in the racist town of Maycomb in the 1930's. Throughout the book, you see Scout and her brother, Jem, maturing and seeing what is going on around them. Their father, Atticus Finch is assigned to defend a black man and it shows his struggle for doing what is right. There are many other characters in To Kill a Mockingbird, but not all represent something. The characters of Atticus Finch, Tom Robinson, and Dolphus Raymond represent the qualities of life, liberty, and the
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759 words - 3 pages
Courage, Oxford Australian school dictionary defines it as the ability to face danger or difficulty or pain even when one is afraid. Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird portrays courage in many different methods through each character. The novel demonstrates how courage can be expressed through a variety of ways and no matter how subtle an act of courage may be it can make a difference in many ways. Many characters in To kill a mockingbird perform various acts of courage. Scout choosing to abide by her fathers instructions to not engage in playground brawls was a courageous change for her. Others whom achieved a courageous feat whether
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827 words - 4 pages
Prejudice as we know it is forming a judgment on someone with no grounds or basis to form a somewhat correct notion. To recap, the official definition of prejudice is “an opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason.” (Merriam-Webster) From ancient civilizations to modern times, prejudice has always been in human nature. Since the ancient times, the gravity of prejudice has not subsided, but deteriorated. Here are some modern day examples of how prejudice is intensifying from literature and the real world.
My first examples are presented in the award-winning novel To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, where many examples of prejudice are shown. The first
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889 words - 4 pages
Everyone has heard the saying “actions speak louder than words.” How people say something and what they do while saying something can completely change the mood of a conversation; this is known as nonverbal communication. One of the biggest factors in nonverbal communication is body language. In To Kill a Mockingbird, voice tone, posture, body movements, and facial expressions are a big part of the body language. Harper Lee excels in not only writing the dialogue of a character, but adding detail, like body language, that helps the reader better understand the characters and the ongoing story.
The night before the big trial in Maycomb County, there was an angry mob planning on
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620 words - 2 pages
In life people make a lot of friends and sometimes they do not know why. Sometimes friendships and bonds with other people change the appearance of what that person can see. There is always someone new to meet who makes life easier. In Harper Lee's novel To Kill A Mocking Bird the symbolic mockingbird is personified in the characters of Tom Robinson and Arthur "Boo" Radley in the way that these characters enrich the lives of other people and require protection from those who seek to harm them. In Harper Lee's novel there is a story of two different mockingbirds (in a metaphorical sense). The first mockingbird is Tom Robinson. Tom Robinson was a local in Maycomb, Alabama
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1331 words - 5 pages
image of an innocent creature to form a strong motif. Mockingbird is a type of Finch (family name significant: Atticus could view the Mockingbirds as part of his family that he ought to protect). First shown in Chpt 10 where Atticus says "shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it´s a sin to kill a mockingbird" (symbol for Mr Ewell?). Because mockingbirds are neither harmful nor destructive - they only make nice music for people to enjoy.Symbol for Boo Radley and Tom Robinson is not drawn together until the very end of the book where Scout realises that the public exposure of Boo would be "sort of like shootin´ a mockingbird".Both characters show kindness
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558 words - 2 pages
"To Kill a Mockingbird" is one of the most famous novels written by Harper Lee. In this novel many different issues can be explored, from racism to growing up, to understanding others. "To Kill a Mockingbird" is a story about a trial of Negro man in a small Southern town. The novel not only displays the racial tension in a small town and the effects it has on it's citizens, but it displays it through the eyes of a young innocent child "" Scout. "To Kill a Mockingbird" can be read as the story of child growth and maturation. And curtain events helped her to understand the life injustice.The first experience that scout faced was the accusation of Negro man in raping a white girl Mayella Ewell
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588 words - 2 pages
To kill a mockingbird is an extremely powerful book highlighting the
horrors of racial discrimination in the “Deep South” of the United
States of America. Discuss.
To kill a mockingbird is an extremely powerful book highlighting the
horrors of racial discrimination in the “Deep South” of the United
States of America. It focuses on the racial issues concerning a
staunch, typically “white” country town in the “Deep South.” This
essay however deals with the various trials and tribulations endured
by a young girl during her schooling years. The story is told from the
perspective of the young girl, Jean Louise Finch, affectionately known
as Scout.
Beginning with the first grade
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965 words - 4 pages
In today’s advanced society individuals have greater protection against discrimination by race, religion, social status and sexual orientation. To Kill a Mockingbird is based on the 1930’s when prejudice and injustice were in the Southern States of America (Alabama). Firstly, Negro and White societies are distinct and segregated, in that: Negroes and White lived in different neighbourhoods, Negroes worship in their own church and Negro and White children attend separate schools. Scout also reveals that Maycomb’s citizens do not allow women to serve on juries and expect them to look well-mannered (well dressed).In addition, social status is also very important in Maycomb. Ewells lived near
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709 words - 3 pages
Living in a world of discrimination of every kind is unavoidable, but being that people do have a choice they can change. As individuals they can change and become more accepting towards diversity. In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee guides the reader through the theme of acceptance. Atticus, Jem, and Scout know and learn the importance of acceptance throughout the novel. All three of them eventually share the same view of acceptance through equality.
Atticus’s character reflects true integrity and this integrity makes him the most accepting and equal character. First, Atticus accepts a very controversial role as Tom Robinson’s lawyer, and this shows how he doesn’t care that Tom is
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841 words - 3 pages
In order to appreciate To Kill A Mockingbird fully, we should be familiar with some of the background of its setting. The South in the colonial times grew into an area with large cotton plantations and small cities. Because of the necessity for cheap labour to pick and seed the cotton, Negro slavery took a strong hold there. At the outbreak of the American Revolution, there were over 500,000 slaves in this country, with by far the greatest number in the South. As time passed, plantation owners formed a landed aristocracy. The Negroes, though slaves, gained a measure of economic security. On the perimeter of this were the poorer white farmers who either owned small pieces of land or worked
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1174 words - 5 pages
Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird
Atticus Finch is a lawyer in the town of Maycomb In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, he is a father of two children, Jem and Scout Finch. He is a man of wise character and considerate soul. He knows his morals and tries to help his children grow up to be successful and happy. Throughout the novel, Atticus acts justly, loves tenderly, and walks humbly by the way he perceives the people in his life, how he succeeds in his job and treats his family.
Firstly, Atticus Finch acts justly, fairly, and always helps others who need it. One of his clients, Mr. Cunningham, pays Atticus in entailment. Scout asks her brother, Jem what the meaning of
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1170 words - 5 pages
One of the major themes of To Kill a Mockingbird is the divisions in human society and how those cause inquality among people. Even though most people know that they shouldn't judge others, it's human nature, and because of this, it causes different sections of society. Most of the characters experience this throughout the novel. In To Kill a Mockingbird, certain divisions in society cause inequality in the town of Maycomb, and the characters and the reader both learn important lessons.
When unequal divides in society form, the person or group of people that are looked down upon don't get the respect that they should. In Maycomb, anyone different from the traditional southern ways gets
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731 words - 3 pages
"Courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what" According to Atticus Finch, an honest lawyer in Harper Lee's novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" teaches the children that courage can be portrayed as both physical bravery and strength, but fighting for what is right regardless of whether you win or lose takes more strength in character, and is ultimately more courageous. This is revealed to us by the children's original belief courage being physical, the idea of Ms Dubose's bravery and similarly, Atticus' strong moral courage. Atticus fits into this definition of what courage is and demonstrates it several times throughout the
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890 words - 4 pages
Whether the injustice is mental, economical, or physical, the innocent person it effects, will always suffer. Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird has more than an abundant supply of injustice present in novel. Miss Maudie says it best when she states that it's "a sin to kill a mockingbird" (p.94). This statement reflects the following characters because they can all be considered mockingbirds, and since they were all harmed in some way they can all be considered as victims of injustice as well. The four characters that are involved in some kind of injustice are Tom Robinson, Boo Radley, The Cunninghams, and Mayella Ewell. Tom Robinson suffered injustice by being charged with a crime he did
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578 words - 2 pages
Prejudice has been present for many years in many countries. Almost everyone has been affected by prejudice either directly or indirectly. The definition of the word prejudice is the preconceived opinion of a person or thing. Almost every one has prejudged someone before meeting him or her or before getting to know them. There are many ways in which one is prejudged such as gender, age, race, religion, the way one dresses etc. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird the lesson the author portrait the most was prejudice in the town and how it can happen anywhere and at any time.
“To better understand a person you have to climb up inside their skin and walk around in it.” The quote stated by
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915 words - 4 pages
Kyd Tian21th century American Literature2014/4/26To kill a mockingbird Draft EssayEmpathyEmpathy is defined as understanding another person's feeling and emotionally placing one's self into another. This trait is a theme in the book To kill a mockingbird, written by Harper Lee in 1960, which talks about the racism and prejudice in 1936 Alabama. In the book, empathy is embodied by Atticus as he says "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it (39)", which means appreciating others' good sides, understanding their bad sides with sympathy and seeing the things from their perspective.In the book
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592 words - 3 pages
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, takes place in an average southern town in the 1930's Racism runs rampant; there were always plenty of victims: blacks. In this timeless classic, Harper Lee paints a picture of a town called Maycomb. Sound, friendly, and safe is the impression a passer-by might get. The residents know different, however. A strange, spooky house in the town, the Radley Place, is but one of the town's secrets. Tom Robinson, a Negro, was on trial for the alleged raped of Mayella, the daughter of Bob Ewelle. On a lighter side, there were Jem and Scout, the children of the prominent lawyer, Atticus Finch. They were just good-ol
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522 words - 2 pages
people to be nonjudgmental.They didn't understand how a jury could convict a man whom they knew wasinnocent and it astonished them. Atticus explained to them that it hashappened before and will happen again, sadly he also told them,"... whenthey do it - it seems that only the children weep. .."Prejudice showed it's face many times in "To Kill a Mocking Bird",and in some of those instances it showed itself being overcome. Fromeconomical prejudice against the Cunninghams to racial prejudice againstTom Robinson, the book has displayed every aspect of how people can lookthrough the window and see things completely differently then the personstanding next to them. It's situations like the ones presented in thisbook that make you angry that society gives people ideas like these towrite about. If we can wipe the window clean, people who know what's rightwouldn't have to hold the guilt for all those people who do wrong.
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777 words - 4 pages
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The story To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is set in 1932 in the middle of the Great Depression in a deep southern town called Maycomb, Alabama. In this time African Americans were segregated and looked down upon in America and especially in southern states like Alabama. In FDR’s 1932 inaugural address he stated that “We have nothing to fear but ourselves”. He said this because in a time of economical depression there was no hope. With no hope in a society things can start to fall apart and people go crazy. Harper Lee cleverly illustrates this.
African Americans and the poor were the most vulnerable in the Great Depression. Bob Ewell was a piece of
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436 words - 2 pages
The novel, To Kill A Mockingbird was written by Harper Lee. It deals with two siblings, Jem and Scout, whose childhood innocence is threatened by numerous incidents that expose the evil side of human nature; most notably the guilty verdict in Tom Robinson's trial and the vengefulness of Bob Ewell. Harper Lee's use of setting, conflict, and characterization helps to make this novel an interesting story. The story takes place in Maycomb, Alabama. The setting of this novel is important because it allows us to undergo an odyssey through the fires of prejudice and injustice in 1932. Maycomb, Alabama is a sleepy town in the south of the United States. The time
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1820 words - 8 pages
To Kill a Mockingbird was and still is one of the English finest literatures. To Kill a Mockingbird was an instant best seller and also the winner of the Pulitzer Prize. This Essay is about this book; to kill a Mockingbird is a famous quote from a character in this book that concerns a very important lesson being taught. The main character of this book is a young girl and her brother and they learn a lot of things. By learning form examples, the children are able to be more courageous. By making an honest mistake, the children are able to be taught to be more respectful. And last but not least by being taught the children learn not to harm anything that has not caused any harm. This
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1024 words - 5 pages
1. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird, there is not one single theme that dominates the entire story. Although racial prejudice and fanaticism may be its central topic, there are other underlying themes that shape the novel to be a well-known classic in American literature. Aside from prejudice, the themes of loss of innocence and needing to walk in another’s shoes are seen in the life of little girl, Jean Louis Finch “Scout.” Prejudice is seen in the many of the main characters such as Bob and Mayella Ewell, Mr. Cunningham, and Lula. However the themes of walking in another’s shoes and loss of innocence are mainly represented in the second part of the novel by Scout. As Scout
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2068 words - 8 pages
(Whether we read about different people in literature to broaden our knowledge about others, or whether we do it as an interest, we cannot overlook the use of foils in stories. While many people can be similar to each other, others can be complete opposites. One character may do something virtuous, while the other may do something heinous; this in turn makes the virtuous character seem exceedingly better than the other character.) (In literature, many writers use foils to highlight one’s true nature and make it more noticeable; when characters are compared side by side, one character is always superior to the other. In the classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee undoubtedly uses
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